Soldiers' parade marks homecoming

A town in East Sussex has welcomed home more than 200 soldiers who have been serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

As part of its homecoming tour, the 1st Battalion Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment, also known as the Armoured Tigers, marched through Lewes.

The parade began at Westgate Street car park, with an inspection at the town hall afterwards.

Two local soldiers also received their operational tour medals in recognition of their tour of duty.

Private Lloyd Pennel, 18, from East Hoathly, who has served with the regiment for two years, received his Operation Telic medal for service in Iraq.

Private Christopher Langford, 24, from Eastbourne, who has served with the regiment for five-and-a-half years, received his Operation Herrick medal for service in Afghanistan.

Eight parades

The soldiers returned to the UK from their base in Paderborn, Germany, at the end of May.

The regiment draws many of its soldiers from Kent, Sussex, Surrey, London, Middlesex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

It is also the infantry regiment that recruits from the Channel Islands.

Due to operational commitments, it is the first time in eight years the battalion has paraded in any of its local towns.

On Saturday, the first of eight parades by the Tigers was held in Worthing, West Sussex.

Parades also took place in Portsmouth on Monday, in Southampton and Romsey, Hampshire, on Tuesday, and in Guildford, Surrey, on Wednesday.

The battalion will march through Tunbridge Wells on Friday, and Canterbury on Saturday, both in Kent.

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